The Bumblebee Foundation and Nepal
The Bumblebee Foundation aims to create a vibrant food culture for Indigenous peoples in many parts of the world. Over the past year, they – together with Local Food Connect – have been working with Somali women in the Heidelberg area to develop their community gardening. They also work with the Sustainable Agriculture Development Program, Nepal (SADP-Nepal) – see www.sadpnepal.org.
In reaction to the recent earthquake in Nepal, they are now looking to work with other organisations in our area to raise funds for SADP-Nepal’s food security initiatives – see www.sadpnepal.org/projects. If you or your organisation can potentially help, please contact Pauline Crosbie by phone (0456 769303) or email. Or, if you would just like to make a financial donation, you can do so at www.sadpnepal.org/donation.
For updates, see www.facebook.com/BumbleBee.org.au.
No Greensborough food swap on 13th June
The June food swap has been cancelled due to renovations at Diamond Valley Library.
Reduce waste, receive some money and make some other people happy!
As many of you will know, there is now a ‘Community Market Stall’ at Eltham Farmers’ Market on the 2nd Sunday of each month. The idea is that home growers can book the stall at zero cost to sell their surplus produce to the public. Read more about the initiative on our website.
Everyone agrees that it is a good idea. The home growers who have been at the stall have nearly always sold out, and both the growers and the buyers went home happy! But, somewhat surprisingly, we are seriously short of people who have come forward to sell their stuff at future markets. This is your opportunity! If you are interested, please contact Guy Palmer (guy.palmer1@gmail.com; 0416 203067; 9444 1400) or come and have a chat with us at the Local Food Connect Information Stand at the market.
Develop your writing skills, make this newsletter better and become famous (well, sort of)!
This website would really benefit if more people contributed material. It can be anything, from a full-blown article to a few words about a particular veggie discovery. Or a new producer for the Local Food Directory. Or a new recipe for the local recipe database. Or developments at your local community garden. Or something about your local food swap. Just email us.
New events
World Environment Day – Australian animals tour
What: Come along to this talk by Mark Cairns from Endangered Species Recovery, and learn about endangered Victorian wildlife species, the value of biodiversity and actions we can all take to help protect endangered species. A number of those endangered species will be in attendance!
When: Friday, 5th June. 90 minutes duration, repeated at different locations at 9.30am, 11.15am, 1pm and 2.30pm.
Where:
- 9.30am: Whittlesea Community Activity Centre Memorial Hall.
- 11.15am: Lalor Library.
- 1pm: Thomastown Library.
- 2.30pm: Mill Park Library.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Whittlesea Council Sustainability Department by phone (9217 2042) or email.
Further information:
- 9.30am: LFC calendar entry.
- 11.15am: LFC calendar entry.
- 1pm: LFC calendar entry.
- 2.30pm: LFC calendar entry.
Grafting fruit trees
What: This is a North East Ranges Permaculture Group (NERP) event. Pete the Permie, heritage fruit tree specialist of Pete the Permie, heritage fruit tree specialist at Telopea Mountain Permaculture and Nursery in Monbulk, will talk about grafting. Peter will bring along a variety of fruit stock for purchase (around $27 to $35 each), and will include information about permaculture in general.
If you can, please bring some supper to share.
When: Thursday, 11th June, 7.30am-9.30pm.
Where: Eltham, TBA.
Cost: Free to Permaculture Victoria members, $10 otherwise.
Enquiries/Bookings: Richard by email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
Foray into fungi
What: Explore the fascinating wold on fungi with presenter Geoff Lay from the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. Geoff will conduct a talk inside and then we will get outside to explore some of the common fungi that’s around.
When: Saturday, 13th June, 9.30am-midday.
Where: Location given upon booking.
Cost: free.
Enquiries/Bookings: Whittlesea Council Sustainability Department by phone (9217 2042) or email.
Further information: LFC calendar entry.
If you know of any events that could usefully be included in the newsletter and website, email us. If you have a flyer, we can also include that. Just one request: please make sure that the details are in a form that we can copy/paste (i.e. not just a jpg).
Upcoming events from previous LFC News
Over the next week
- Volunteer appreciation evening: Wednesday, 13th May, 7-9.30pm.
- Sustainable garden sculpture: insect hotels: Saturday, 16th May, 10am-midday.
- Soil matters: Saturday, 16th May, 2-4.30pm.
- Backyard chickens: Tuesday, 19th May, 11.30am-12.30pm.
Over the next month
- Australian animals tour: Friday, 5th June, 9.30am.
- Australian animals tour: Friday, 5th June, 11.15am.
- Australian animals tour: Friday, 5th June, 1pm.
- Australian animals tour: Friday, 5th June, 2.30pm.
- Grafting fruit trees: Thursday, 11th June, 7.30am-9.30pm.
- Foray into fungi: Saturday, 13th June, 9.30am-midday.